The head of the Pakistani Taleban claimed responsibility today for the
commando assault on the police academy in Lahore, and threatened further
atrocities, not just in Pakistan but in Afghanistan and even in America.

Baitullah Mehsud, 35, said that yesterday's attack was in retaliation for
bombing runs by unmanned US drone aircraft in the frontier areas of Pakistan,
targeting militant leaders.

Mr Mehsud took the unusual step of picking up the phone in person to call the
BBC and Western news agencies, rather than issuing a statement through a
spokesman.

Analysts say that his increasing self-confidence comes as he emerges as the
leader of an ever-broader alliance of many of the main militant groups in
Pakistan. The grouping has proved itself able and willing to strike not just in
the troubled tribal areas but to attack high-profile targets in Pakistan's
economic heartland, a development that they say is both new and highly
dangerous.

[...]

"We wholeheartedly take responsibility for this attack and will carry out
more such attacks in future,” he said. “It’s revenge for the drone attacks in
Pakistan.”

Mr Mehsud said that he had set up a council of mujahedeen (holy warriors)
bringing together different militant groups “to step up attacks on US and Nato
forces in Afghanistan".

He shrugged off the US bounty on his head, saying his militants would
continue their assaults in Pakistan and Afghanistan and could even mount attacks
in the United States.

“You can’t imagine how we could avenge this threat inside Washington, inside
the White House,” he said. “The maximum they can do is martyr me. We will exact
our revenge on them from inside America."

The head of the Pakistani Taleban claimed responsibility today for the
commando assault on the police academy in Lahore, and threatened further
atrocities, not just in Pakistan but in Afghanistan and even in America.

Baitullah Mehsud, 35, said that yesterday's attack was in retaliation for
bombing runs by unmanned US drone aircraft in the frontier areas of Pakistan,
targeting militant leaders.

Mr Mehsud took the unusual step of picking up the phone in person to call the
BBC and Western news agencies, rather than issuing a statement through a
spokesman.

Analysts say that his increasing self-confidence comes as he emerges as the
leader of an ever-broader alliance of many of the main militant groups in
Pakistan. The grouping has proved itself able and willing to strike not just in
the troubled tribal areas but to attack high-profile targets in Pakistan's
economic heartland, a development that they say is both new and highly
dangerous.

[...]

"We wholeheartedly take responsibility for this attack and will carry out
more such attacks in future,” he said. “It’s revenge for the drone attacks in
Pakistan.”

Mr Mehsud said that he had set up a council of mujahedeen (holy warriors)
bringing together different militant groups “to step up attacks on US and Nato
forces in Afghanistan".

He shrugged off the US bounty on his head, saying his militants would
continue their assaults in Pakistan and Afghanistan and could even mount attacks
in the United States.

“You can’t imagine how we could avenge this threat inside Washington, inside
the White House,” he said. “The maximum they can do is martyr me. We will exact
our revenge on them from inside America."